American Virgin Islands
- proper noun
- /əˈmɛrɪkən ˈvɜrdʒɪn ˈaɪləndz/
:
Islas Vírgenes Americanas
- The American Virgin Islands are known for their beautiful beaches.
Examples
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She spent her honeymoon exploring the islands and coral reefs of the American Virgin Islands.
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Many cruise ships dock at the American Virgin Islands during their Caribbean routes.
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The American Virgin Islands attract thousands of tourists each year for their beautiful beaches.
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Have you ever visited the American Virgin Islands?
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She spent her honeymoon exploring the islands and coral reefs of the American Virgin Islands.
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Many cruise ships dock at the American Virgin Islands during their Caribbean routes.
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The American Virgin Islands attract thousands of tourists each year for their beautiful beaches.
Synonyms
A group of islands in the Caribbean Sea that belong to the United States
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase names a group of islands ('islands') that are associated with the United States ('American'), so a learner who knows those constituents can infer it refers to the US-administered Virgin Islands. Although 'Virgin' functions as a place-name element rather than a literal adjective, the overall meaning is compositional and similar constructions exist cross-linguistically, making it immediately understandable.
Etymology
American Virgin Islands comes from the older name Virgin Islands, which Christopher Columbus gave after a saint story about Saint Ursula and her many followers. When some of those islands became part of the United States, people called that group the American Virgin Islands, so the name now means 'Virgin Islands' that belong to America.
